House of Commons - Saint Patrick's Day Welsh language incident
2021-03-17
Saville Roberts spoke Welsh in the House of Commons to wish Irish people a happy Saint Patrick's Day. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle reprimanded her, stating that speaking Welsh was against parliamentary rules. Jacob Rees-Mogg, then Leader of the House, subsequently referred to Welsh as a foreign language.
She used the incident to highlight Westminster's disregard for Welsh identity, arguing Welsh had been spoken in Britain for centuries before English. The exchange reinforced Plaid's narrative of institutional hostility to Welsh interests.
Direct quotes
- "Jacob Rees-Mogg may not be aware, but Welsh is not a 'foreign language'. It had been spoken in Britain for hundreds of years before English even existed."
- "Westminster's disdain for minority languages."
Crown Estate devolution campaign - media interviews around the coronation
2023-05-09
Ahead of King Charles III's coronation, she used public attention on monarchy finances to argue for devolving the Crown Estate in Wales.
She argued devolution of the Crown Estate would end a begging bowl culture and give Wales control over energy and revenue decisions, using Scotland as the model.
Direct quotes
- "I think the devolution of the Crown Estate, it feels fair, it feels equitable, and we could do so much with this."
- "It could be one critical step that could make so much difference to the Welsh economy in the furthest westernmost regions of north and south Wales."
IWA article: Terminally Ill Adults Bill - The cutting edge of Welsh devolution's jagged edges
2025-02-19
The UK Parliament was debating the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with implications for devolved health policy in Wales.
She argued the bill exposed Westminster encroachment on devolved competencies and warned Welsh Labour against setting a precedent by accepting it.
Direct quotes
- "Welsh Labour will set a dangerous precedent if they don't establish boundaries in their relationship with Labour in government in London."
Plaid Cymru Autumn Conference - closing speech
2025-10-01
Delivered amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and the electoral threat of Reform UK.
She framed Welsh nationalism as civic and inclusive, rejecting fear-based politics and positioning independence as a multicultural, compassionate vision.
Direct quotes
- "As dark forces rumble in our communities and on our smartphones, we have to defend Welshness that welcomes. A nation that includes and builds - not one that divides."
- "A Wales confident enough in itself to show compassion towards others and offer others a place to belong. A Wales confident enough in its own identity that it never needs to fear someone else's."
Statement on UK Government policing reforms
2026-01-01
Reports suggested Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was preparing major policing reforms that could merge Wales' forces into regional mega forces.
She used the threat to argue for devolution of justice and policing, stressing decisions should be made in Wales for Wales.
Direct quotes
- "The proposed reorganisation of policing in Wales is being driven from Westminster, with little regard for Wales' geography, communities, language or social needs."
- "If policing structures in Wales are to change, those decisions must be made in Wales, by institutions accountable to the people of Wales."